Right-of-way double jointer

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for joining pipe sections on or along side a pipeline right-of-way. The apparatus comprises a main frame and one or more telescoping subframes. The two pipe sections are supported in a first position where their ends are beveled. The two pipe sections are moved to a second position where they are pushed together, held in place with a clamp, and rolled while a welding head joins the two pipe sections. The joined pipe sections are moved to a third position to await removal from the apparatus by a crane. In the meantime, pipe sections are continually loaded and unloaded from the apparatus so that pipe sections can be joined on a continuous basis. The subframe telescopes into and out of the main frame to support a pipe section thereon. Road wheels and tractor wheels are provided on the main frame to allow the apparatus to be transported and positioned along the pipeline right-of-way in inaccessible and remote locations.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A mobile apparatus for making girth welds between two sections of pipe comprising: an elongated main frame;   at least one subframe movably mounted to said main frame and selectively movable from a retracted position wherein said subframe is nested substantially within said main frame, and movable to an extended position wherein said subframe is substantially extended out of said main frame;   positioning means on said main and subframes for movement of both pipe sections;   welding means on said frame for attaching two pipe sections together; and   wheel means on said main frame to allow said main and sub frame to travel over roadways and to remote sites.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wheel means further comprises: a plurality of road wheels;   a plurality of track wheels; and   means for selectively positioning said road wheels and said track wheels into contact with a support surface to allow the apparatus to travel on paved and unpaved support surfaces.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: first outrigger means associated with said main frame for selectively leveling and stabilizing said main frame to a position where said road and said track wheels are suspended above a support surface and the weight of said main frame is supported substantially from said first outrigger means; and   second outrigger means associated with said subframe for selectively leveling and stabilizing said subframe.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, durther comprising: drive means mounted with said main and subframes for moving said subframe between said retracted and said extended position.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said positioning means further comprise: a movable clamp adapted to be advanced within one pipe section to a position adjacent a joint formed with an adjacent pipe section;   means for positioning said movable clamp to secure two pipe sections adjacent each other and in alignment during the operation of said welding means.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said positioning means further comprises: at least one power roller on said main frame;   at least one power roller on said subframe;   said welding means comprising a welding head and means for positioning said welding head adjacent a joint formed by a first and second pipe section;   said welding head spanning the joint and floating along the outer surfaces of the two pipe sections and welding the two pipe sections together as said first and second power rollers cause both pipe sections to rotate about their longitudinal axis in tandem.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said positioning means further comprises: at least one powered endo roller mounted to said main frame for selective translation of one pipe section along its longitudinal axis and into contact with an adjacent pipe section.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of idle rollers on said main frame to support a pipe section and facilitate the operation of said power roller on said main frame;   a plurality of power rollers on said main frame with at least one such power roller mounted close to one end of said main frame such that a joint formed by two pipe sections is disposed between two power rollers mounted to said main frame;   said power roller on said subframe and said power roller close to one end of said main frame supporting one pipe section when said subframe is in said extended position; and   at least one nonpowered endo roller on said main frame cooperating with said powered endo roller to support a pipe section on said main frame and to facilitate its translation along its longitudinal axis into contact with an adjacent pipe section.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of first pipe supports on said main and said subframe disposed in longitudinal alignment for supporting a first and second pipe section in substantial alignment in a first position where the two pipe sections can be positioned spaced apart from each other; and   facing means mounted to said main frame selectively positionable adjacent the space ends of two pipe sections supported on said first pipe supports for forming a bevel on each of the spaced ends.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said power roller on said main frame and said endo roller are disposed in alignment for supporting two pipe sections in a second position parallel to said first position; and   means for selectively shifting a first and second pipe section from said first position after beveling to said second position for welding.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of second pipe supports on said main and said subframe disposed in longitudinal alignment for supporting a joined first and second pipe section in a third position; and   means for selectively shifting the joined pipe sections from said second to said third position.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a movable clamp adapted to be advanced within one pipe section to a position adjacent a joint formed with an adjacent pipe section;   means for positioning said movable clamp to secure two pipe sections adjacent each other and in alignment during the operation of said welding means.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said positioning means further comprises: at least one power roller on said main frame;   at least one power roller on said subframe;   said welding means comprising a welding head and means for positioning said welding head adjacent a joint formed by a first and second pipe section; and   said welding head spanning the joint and floating along the outer surfaces of the two pipe sections and welding the two pipe sections together as said first and second power rollers cause both pipe sections to rotate about their longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said positioning means further comprises: at least one powered endo roller mounted to said main frame for selective translation of one pipe section along its longitudinal axis and into contact with an adjacent pipe section.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of idle rollers on said main frame to support a pipe section and facilitate the operation of said power roller on said main frame;   a plurality of power rollers on said main frame with at least one such power roller mounted close to one end of said main frame such that a joint formed by two pipe sections is disposed between two power rollers mounted to said main frame;   said power roller on said subframe and said power roller close to one end of said main frame supporting one pipe section when said subframe is in said extended position; and   at least one nonpowered endo roller on said main frame cooperating with said powered endo roller to support a pipe section on said main frame and to facilitate its translation along its longitudinal axis into contact with an adjacent pipe section.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of first pipe supports on said main and said subframe disposed in longitudinal alignment for supporting a first and second pipe section in substantial alignment in a first position where the two pipe sections can be positioned spaced apart from each other;   facing means mounted to said main frame selectively positionable adjacent the spaced ends of two pipe sections supported on said first pipe supports for forming a bevel on each of the spaced ends.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: said power roller on said main frame and said endo roller are disposed in alignment for supporting two pipe sections in a second position parallel to said first position; and   means for selectively shifting a first and second pipe section from said first position after beveling to said second position for welding.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of second pipe supports on said main and said subframe disposed in longitudinal alignment for supporting a joined first and second pipe section in a third position; and   means for selectively shifting the joined pipe sections from said second to said third position.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of first pipe supports on said main and said subframe disposed in longitudinal alignment for supporting a first and second pipe section in substantial alignment in a first position where the two pipe sections can be positioned spaced apart from each other;   facing means mounted to said main frame selectively positionable adjacent the spaced ends of two pipe sections supported on said first pipe supports for forming a bevel on each of the spaced ends.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said positioning means further comprises: at least one power roller on said main frame;   at least one power roller on said subframe;   at least one endo roller on said main frame;   said power rollers and said endo roller in alignment on an axis parallel to said first position and adapted to support two pipe sections in a second position; and   means for selectively shifting a first and second pipe section from said first position to said second position.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said positioning means further comprises: a plurality of second pipe supports on said main and said subframes disposed in longitudinal alignment for supporting a joined first and second pipe section in a third position;   means for selectively shifting the joined pipe sections from said second to said third position.   
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein: said welding means joins two pipe sections in said second position;   said second position is disposed between said first and third positions;   said first, second and third positions are atop of said main and said subframes and do not extend laterally beyond said wheel means; and   said facing means adapted to face the pipe section ends in said first position.   
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said main frame further comprises: a hitch mounted to the opposite end of said frame from the end where said subframe extends, to allow the apparatus to be towed to remote locations and over roads by another vehicle.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein: said welding means joins two pipe sections in said second position;   said second position is disposed between said first and third positions;   said first, second and third positions are atop of said main and said subframes and do not extend laterally beyond said wheel means; and   said facing means adapted to face the pipe section ends in said first position.   
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said main frame further comprises: a hitch mounted to the opposite end of said frame from the end where said subframe extends, to allow the apparatus to be towed to remote locations and over roads by another vehicle.   
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said welding means joins two pipe sections in said second position;   said second position is disposed between said first and third positions;   said first, second and third positions are atop of said main and said subframes and do not extend laterally beyond said wheel means; and   said facing means adapted to face the pipe section ends in said first position.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said main frame further comprises: a hitch mounted to the opposite end of said frame from the end where said subframe extends, to allow the apparatus to be towed to remote locations and over roads by another vehicle.